title: The effect of narrowed segment length on the degree of early postoperative dysphagia in laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the gold standard in the surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, it may cause troublesome complications like dysphagia. In this study, we demonstrated the effect of narrowed segment length on early dysphagia in patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one patients who underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication by a single surgeon between January 2007 and November 2008 were reviewed. Dysphagia scores were assessed by a question in the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index questionnaire and recorded preoperatively and at 1 month and 6 months. Barium esophagogram was performed for all patients at 1 month. Narrowed segment length was measured on esophagogram. Patients were divided into two groups (Group 1, ≤30 mm; Group 2, >30 mm). Dysphagia scores preoperatively and at 1 month and 6 months were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups were homogeneous in age, gender, body mass index, and preoperative dysphagia score. We were unable to demonstrate any difference in preoperative and postoperative dysphagia scores between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we used subjective data for grade of dysphagia and esophagogram for wrap length instead of manometric data. In our opinion, there is no effect of narrowed segment length on the degree of early postoperative dysphagia in patients undergoing laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. haltun@hotmail.com.tr
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.forename: Ümit
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Akyüz
authors.forename: Oktay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Banli
authors.forename: Rojbin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karakoyun
authors.forename: Ender
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Onur
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okuducu
authors.forename: Aziz Boras
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Karıp
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Başkent
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Memışoğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index